Make a Flip Flop Gift Bag

I always hate to throw away gift bags from the store, so I try to recycle them when I can.  This bag I got from the Williams Sonoma Store and it was the perfect size.  

I needed to cover the logo, so I made each flip flop about half the width of the logo.

Here is my pattern.  If you copy it and paste it into your WORD program, then you can re-size it to the size that you need.

Then I folded a piece of scrapbook paper in half, drew my pattern on the back side, and cut out both flip flops at the same time:

After the flip flops were cut out, I poked a hole for the toe straps with a skewer stick.  I also used the skewer to poke the ribbon threw the holes:

Then I taped the ribbons to the back side of the flip flop and repeated the same procedure 

with the other flip flop:

Then I glued both flip flops onto the bag, making sure that I covered the logo:

Lastly I hot glued flowers in the toes and a rhinestone in the middle.  I think that it turned out cute and I saved a bag from the trash.

The back side I decorated a little different.  I just printed out a sign from microsoft Word and then glued some of the extra scrapbook paper around it to match the front. I also added a flower with a rhinestone.

Here are some other bags that I have done:

 I also found this fun project where a lady on smallforbig painted plain bags. I thought that they were so cute and colorful that I will have to try it. 

http://smallforbig.com/2013/09/diy-paperbag-paintings.html

 Just click on the link to see how she made them.

Here are some more fun flip flop centered projects:

Decorate flip flops with ribbon and beads:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2012/06/decorating-flip-flops-with-ribbon-and.html

Make a flip flop wreath:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2012/04/flip-flop-wreath.html

Here is another printable idea for your gift packages. Just click on the picture to get the free printable:

Father's Day Bread and Butter Pickles with Printout

This would make a great family project.  It is easy to do, plus the kids will get a kick of learning how to make pickles.  You could even put them on your Father's Day hamburgers!

My father loves bread and butter pickles, so when I saw a recipe on Pinterest I thought it would be a great idea to make him a batch.  It looked easy, and it was, BUT shopping for the smaller cucumbers and the mustard seed wasn't as easy as I thought.  With the help of a few friends, I was able to locate the items.  Food-4-less sells the smaller cucumbers.  Vons (and I heard Smiths) has the mustard seed.  Shame on Wal-mart and Winco for not carrying those items.


I followed the recipe, but was worried that they might not be sweet enough (you know those health nuts are always afraid of sugar) so I added a bit more sugar. I also substituted the pickling cucumbers for Persian Cucumbers because they are smaller.  Here is how I did it:


First slice them up. I like the wavy patterns on mine:

Then pour on the Kosher salt and put in the fridge for one hour:

Then rinse off the cucumbers and add the sliced onions.


Then follow the recipe to make the pickling sauce:

Pour the vinegar sauce over the top:

Let cool for one hour before storing in the fridge.


Put the pickles in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. They should last about two weeks:

And here's my dad with his homemade jar of of pickles:

Here is my altered recipe:

Father's Day Bread and butter pickles

My friends and family tell me that they love them.  

My dad really loved them!

I just want to give a shout out to the original Bread and Butter Pickle recipe.  Here is where you can find it: http://www.recipegirl.com/2011/07/20/bread-and-butter-pickles/

Here is a printable to make for your Father's Day Bread and Butter Pickles.  

I also have a cute Father's Day card that you can make:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2011_07_01_archive.html

AND

I also have a cute Father's Day poem:

http://hollyshome-hollyshome-hollyshome.blogspot.com/2011/06/fathers-day-poem.html 

May Luck Be With You on This St. Patrick's Day

I have been trying to learn how to do Photoshop.  While playing around I found this old picture that my daughter and I took at California Adventure in Bug's Life Land. 

The Bug's Land has since been replaced with the Marvel's Campus.

 They had huge clover's all over the park, but there is only one four leaf clover. 

When we found it we took this picture of it:

I was just playing around with the different applications and I came up with the next one. 

 It is very simple, but I liked it so I thought that I would post it just for giggles. 

Here it is:

May Luck Be With You!

I thought it would be a fun St. Patrick's Days post. 

Now that it's gone it's fun to have the memory of it in a photo.

I played around some more and made a another fun picture for St. Patrick's Day.  Here it is:

If you are looking for some fun St. Patrick's Day ideas just click here!

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String Printable

When I saw this idea on Pinterest it was just a brown gift bag with jute wrapped around it, and a handwritten sign.  I loved the idea, but wanted to jazz it up a bit.  When my daughter-in-law recently had a birthday I thought it would be a good opportunity to to do it for her present.  Here is what I came up with:

 

 

 

 

I like to use photo paper to print on for a more professional quality.  Another idea would be to print out on a rustic brown paper.

 

I made two different versions on one page. Both include a "To and From" tag.

 

 

 

Just right click your mouse on the printable and save it into your pictures.  You can resize it in your word processing programs.

You can copy my idea of punching two holes at the top and the bottom and tying it, or come up with your own ideas.  I would love to see any unique ways that you have used this sign gift tag.

Here is another fun gift tag that can be used for a "Date Night" gift:

Decorate Your Mug With a Sharpie to Look Like an Anthropology Mug

Decorate Your Mug With a Sharpie To Look Like An Anthropology Mug

This is such a fun project.  

With all the fun colors that Sharpie makes, there are no limits.  This would make a great Mother's Day, or Father's Day project.  What parent wouldn't love a hand drawn mug from their child?

Here's My family decorating mugs at a family reunion:

I used an orange sharpie oil based marker and drew on a fun design.  The oil based sharpie lasts longer.  



If it's not an oil based marker it will wash off the first time you wash it.

First I drew an orange pattern all over the mug.

 Then I drew the letter "h"for Holly.  

Baked it at 350 deg. for 1 hour. 

Then I hand washed the mug and so far nothing has washed off.  I'm sure that in time it will, but the designs on store bought mugs seem to wash off with time.  I hope this works for you also.

It's that easy!

This is my version of an Anthropology mug, but you could do anything! 

Here are the mugs that my family came up with:

I would recommend hand washing it. 

Here are anthropology's versions:

Here is a simpler version that I did:

Layered Seasonal Subway Art Pictures

A Layered Seasonal Subway Art Picture

Here are some examples of the layered subway art that I have done. 

Right now the Halloween,  Thanksgiving, Christmas, Winter, Easter, St. Patrick's and Valentines ones are free. 

Just scroll down and you can copy it. 
If you click on the picture to make it bigger then you can save it into your pictures, or you can copy and paste it.

Here is a project that I found on pinterest. I saw a subway art sign that I really liked. It really inspired me to try to make my own:

I got this printout from ETSY by mycomputerismycanvas.

It was so cute that I had to have it!  

If you would like to purchase the adorable Spring printout click here.

After I got it I decided to add my own stamp to it.

I liked the one on ETSY, but I thought it would 

be cute to add layers to it.  

First I used her art as a backdrop.  

Then I started layering birds, butterflies, flowers etc.  

I distressed them to give them a transparent effect. 

My daughter and I had just watched "The Sound of Music" the night before, so I thought it would be fun to put
"These are a few of our favorite things" on the top layer. 
I am really happy with how it turned out.


Fourth of July Subway Art:
Since I had so much fun making that one I decided to make more.  Here is one for the Fourth of July:

Here is the America printout:

Summer Subway Art:

And then I did one for summer.  Check it out:

Here is the summer printout:

"Time for School" Subway Art:

All Hallow"s Eve (Halloween) Subway Art:

FREE, JUST RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE AS A PICTURE.  YOU CAN PRINT ANY WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE.

FREE

Thanksgiving "Turkey Day" Subway Art

Free Christmas "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" Subway Art

FREE  Winter Subway Art

Valentine's Day Subway Art

Here are some matching printouts for napkin rings, gift bags, gift tags, place cards and garland.  Just click on the link below:

St. Patrick's Day

Easter